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K12 Online Conference » Blog Archives

Tag Archives: inquiry

2015-Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles: From ‘Yes, But’ to ‘Why Not?’ and ‘How Can We?’

Published by:

Presenter: Scott McLeod
Location: Ames, Iowa, USA
@mcleod

 

Presentation Description: Whenever any sort of change or innovation is discussed, the ‘Yes, but…’ objections are inevitable. However, instead of allowing those resistance points to dominate and defeat promising ideas, teachers and administrators can reframe opposition into possibility by asking the questions ‘Why not?’ and ‘How can we?’ Effective educators focus on adaptation, forward progress, and collective effort and efficacy. The ‘yes, buts’ don’t do anything except keep us stuck. Too often we get mired in negativity and defeatism instead of recognizing that – both individually and collectively – we usually have the ability to do and be so much more than our current reality reflects. This keynote focuses on transformative leadership mindsets and features exemplary schools from around the world that are ignoring the ‘yes, buts’ to make amazing things happen for children and youth.

 

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/workshops/2015-k12-online

2014 2014-Passion-Driven Learning

Trust and Transparency

Published by:

Presenter: Bart Miller
Location: Tokyo, Japan
@barmill

Presentation Title: Trust and Transparency

Presentation Description: Support self directed, interest and passion driven learning in your classroom by building trust. Using simple tools and strategies to maximize transparency, we can empower students to explore their passions to engage in deeper learning and authentic inquiry.

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4snKWNA9XIFSXEybW44RGZvVGs&usp=sharing

Additional Information:
http://independentinquiry.wikispaces.com

2014 2014-Passion-Driven Learning

A Key to Interest-Based Learning

Published by:

Presenter: Paul Allison
Location: New York City, NY
@paulallison

Presentation Title: A Key to Interest-Based Learning

Presentation Description: When we introduce Youth Voices to students we tell them: “We mean it! We really do want you to find your own area of inquiry, your own niche of expertise, exploration, and excitement. What are you already good at? What do you dream about, wonder over, and want to inquire into? What are you passionate about? That’s what good research is really about. Starting with 10 self and 10 world questions is a great way to begin!” http://youthvoices.net/questions

Next, we tell students: “Over time, along with your teacher and your peers you will be able to identify the “generative themes” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 3, pp. 96 & 97) that begin to bubble up in your writing. This type of really free, habitual freewriting is an important first step — and ongoing, underground spring — that allows your projects and essays to become “a practice in catalyzing passion and creativity,” not just another school assignment. Once you begin to write into an area of inquiry, your can take your next step “by finding niche learning communities that each kid might want to be a part of and build on that.” (John Seely Brown. Lecture, 1.18.05) Helping you to create and find these niches is what “creating discussions” in a school-based social network such as Youth Voices is all about.: http://youthvoices.net/freewriting

In this video, Paul Allison puts the “10 self/10 world questions” assignment into the context of the larger goals of Youth Voices, where we encourage students to allow their passions to brush up against disciplinary inquiry.

Learn more about this key to interest-based learning.

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://youthvoices.net/questions

Additional Information:
http://youthvoices.net

2014 2014-Passion-Driven Learning

Passion-Based Learning

Published by:

Presenter: Joy Kirr
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL
@joykirr

Presentation Title: Passion-Based Learning

Presentation Description: What IS “passion-based learning?” It goes by many names, but it is authentic, student-driven time given during school hours. It is used to engage students in their learning, and let them know that their interests and inquiries matter. Once you start, you will find it permeates the rest of your teaching hours.

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://tinyurl.com/PassionBasedLrngRes

Additional Information:

“About Me” Web Address – http://joykirr.wix.com/portfolio

“About Me” bio: I currently teach 7th grade English Language Arts in a suburb of Chicago. I was first a special education teacher working with deaf & hard-of-hearing students, and next became a reading specialist and National Board Certified. I’m on my 20th year of teaching, but it’s always like my first!

2012 Visioning New Curriculum

Make/Hack/Play – Lenses for Learning

Published by:

Presenter: Bud Hunt
Location: Longmont, Colorado USA
Twitter: @budtheteacher

Presentation Description: The Center for Make/Hack/Play grew out of a system asking itself questions about the purpose and role of schools as institutions of learning. In this presentation, Bud Hunt unpacks the terms that guide his inquiry about and work within schools.

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:

 

2009 2009-Leading the Change

Remixing History: The Cigar Box Project

Published by:

Presenter: Neil Stephenson
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Link to presenter’s K12Online Ning Profile page

Presentation Title: Remixing History: The Cigar Box Project

Presentation Description: Neil Stephenson believes in the power of technology to bring the past into the future. Empowered with 21st century tools, Stephenson’s Grade 7 students reinterpret events from five periods that have shaped Canada’s current historical landscape. Called the Cigar Box Project, Stephenson’s students collect and analyze historical images and artifacts, and then use graphic design principles to digitally assemble new cigar panels, each one revealing a unique, visual perspective of an historical event or time from Canada’s past. At the end of the year, students physically build their wooden Cigar Boxes, creating their own historical artifact that pulls together the story of our country. Along the way, students encounter a variety of assessment practices, create mini-documentaries about their artifacts and meet a number of experts who support their historical learning.


DotSub Video Presentation Link

Blip m4v direct link (video file)
Blip mp3 direct link (audio file)

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://thinkinginmind.blogspot.com/2009/06/k-12-presentation-remixing-history.html

Additional Information:
One of the exciting part of my current role is to share some of the projects that are being designed by other teachers at my school, the Calgary Science School. If you are looking for project ideas built on inquiry-based learning, you’ll find many more here, on the Connect Blog: http://calgaryscienceschool.blogspot.com/